Streaker Open at Ouse Amateur Sailing Club
by David Baddeley 17 Jun 2008 22:09 BST
Eight visitors joined three club boats for the Ouse Amateur Streaker Open meeting sponsored by local brewer Elgoods of Wisbech with particulary appropriate prizes. Sunshine and a light north westerly wind greeted the competitors as they started the first race with the 3 home boats leading the way. Positions were maintained by the first two boats but there was much changing of position in the rest of the fleet. Final positions were 1. 1541 Nick Lovell OASC, 2. 1619 Ian Bradley OASC 3. 1554 Mark Hill Welton SC.
After a break for lunch, the wind shifted further to the west which necessitated a change of course. Bradley made a perfect start and led the fleet until rounding the last mark of the lap in the wrong direction left him working his way back up from last position to finally finish fourth. The wind picked up with some showers of rain bringing through a few squalls. Final positions were 1. Mark Hill, 2. Nick Lovell, 3. 1591 Mike Hanes Deben YC.
The start of the third race was delayed due to a timing error which is becoming a tradition – the same thing happened during last years Open. Mike Hanes led the fleet from the first mark to the finish line in a fairly processional race. Thunder heralded the day’s biggest squall which was followed by the wind dropping sharply away to almost nothing, leaving the bottom half of the fleet to drift home. Final positions were 1. Mike Hanes 2. Nick Lovell 3. Ian Bradley.
Overall Results:
1st 1541 Nick Lovell (Ouse Amateur SC)
2nd 1591 Mike Hanes (Deben YC)
3rd 1554 Mark Hill (Welton SC)
4th 1619 Ian Bradley (Ouse Amateur SC)
5th 1626 Graham Nelson (Ouse Amateur SC)